Automatic switch



June 25, 1929. A. s. RIGG'S 1.718.379

AUTOMATIC SWITCH Filed May 2, 1928 Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

ALGER S. RIGGS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T THERMIONIC CORPORATION, ACORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

Application filed May 2, 1928. Serial No. 274,592.

The invention relates to automatic switches. The prime object of theinvention is to provide an improved automatic switch especially adaptedfor use in connection with electrical phonographs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed which will be adapted to automatically complete a circuit uponplacing the stylus of a phonographic pick up device upon a sound recordand will automatically break the contact after the stylus has completedits course across the record.

One feature of the invention relates to the provision or an arm mountedfor rotation with the tone arm of a phonograph whereby movement of thetone arm will cause the arm to operate contact members.

A further feature of the invention relates to the provision of a contactcarrying arm mounted for a limited arc swing which will be adapted toclose the circuit of an electric system upon actuation thereof by anactuating arm.

A further featureof the invention relates to the provision of means formaintaining the contacts together until they are released by themovement of the actuating arm.

Other objects and features will appear from the following description inconnection with the accompanying drawings in.

which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the presentinvention.

Fig, 2 is a bottom plan view of the invention illustrated in Fig. l withthe switch closed.

rig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3, 3

of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures ofthe drawing.

In the following description and claims, parts, characteristic featuresand functions will be identified by specific means for convenience ofexpression, but they are intended to be generic in their application tosimilar parts or equivalent construction as the art will permit.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, for reproducing sounds aphonographic pickup device is provided carried by a tone arm 11 mountedupon a swivel 12 which is r0- tatably secured through the top 14 of aphonograph cabinet. A stylus (not shown) carried by the pickup device 10is adapted to pass over a phonographic record 16 carried on theturntable 17. Vibrations of the stylus caused by the record maypropagate sound waves from a diaphragm carried by the pickup device 10or they may govern the transmission of electrical signals by the pickupmechanism 10 which may be carried upon a conductor through the tone arm11 and the swivel 12 to a reproducing instrument in connection with anelectrical amplifying device. In either arrangement it may be desirableto employ an electrical circuit including conductors 18 and 19 foreither operating the turntable of the phonographic device or inconjunction with a reproducing and amplifying system.

For controlling the electrical circuit, a switch 20 is providedcomprising a base 21 upon which is secured an insulating block 22 formedof bakelite, hard rubber or other insulating material provided with apair of elongated apertures 23 and 24 through which threaded members 25are adapted to pass for securing the insulating block in a relativelyadjustable position with respect to the base 21. A metallic contactingmember 26 is provided secured to the block 22 by threaded connectiontherewith whereby a conductor connecting lug 27 may be permanentlyassociated therewith for attachment with the conductor 18 of thecircuit.

For completing the circuit a movable contact member 30 is providedmounted near one end of a resilient carrying member 3], of conductingmaterial, the opposite end of which is connected with the conductor 19of the electrical circuit. The carrying member 31 is secured as at 32 topivoted arm 33 for movement in and out of contact with the contactingmember 26. Rotation of the arm 33 is restricted by the provision of apair of spring retaining members 34 secured to a fixed block35 wherebymovement of the arm 33 will cause a distortion of one or the other ofthe retaining members tending to return the arm 33 to its normalposition as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. An angular bracket 37is provided adjacent one end of the arm 33 for limiting the movement ofthe carrying member 31.

For actuating the arm 33 to open or close the circuit a lever arm 40 isprovided secured to and rotatable with the tone arm 11 but insulatedtherefrom by insulating bushing 41.

The opposite end of the lever arm is provided with an angular upturnedportion 42 adapted to form internal and external camming surfaces 43 and44 respectively, which are adapted to coact with a pin 45 extendingdownwardly from the arm 33 toeffect movement of the arm as will behereinafter described.

For retaining'the contact member 30 in po sition for completing thecircuit, a catch memv ber is provided pivoted as at 51 adjacent theinsulating block 22. The catch 50 is provided with a reduced portion 52terminating in a shoulder 53 which is adapted to engage the outer end 54of the arm 33 for securing the member 30 in contact with the member 26.A spring 55 is provided between the block 22 and the catch 50 forretaining the side of the catch 50 in contact with the end 54 of the arm33. A pin 56 extends downwardly from the free end of the catch 50 whichis adapted to be actuated by the calcining face torreleasing the arm 33from a contacting position.

In the operation of the device a pickup mechanism 10 is positioned overthe outer portion oi the phonograph record. In thus positioning thepickup mechanism, the actuating arm 40 is rotated causing the can'uningface 44 to act upon the pin 45 causing the arm 33 to swing until thecontact member 30 carried thereby is in contact with the contact member26 closing the electrical circuit which then energizes the pickupmechanism. or completes the circuit for operating the turntable as shownin Figure 2 of the drawing. In this movement of the arm 33 its free end54 is adapted to cam outwardly the catch member 50 until the end 54 ofthe arm 33 has passed the shoulder 53 at which time the spring 55 actsin reversing the direction of the catch mechanism whereby the edge 54will be secured against the shoulder 53. As the pickup mechanism 10proceeds across the face of the phonograph record towards its center thelever arm 40 is moved with it by engagement through; the insulatedbushing 41. When the end oi the record is reached by the pickupmechanism 10 the camming face 44 of the lever arm 40 contacts with thepin 56 of the catch 50 camming it outwardly against the tension ofthespring 55 thereby releasing the contact 54 from the shoulder 53, wherebyit will resume its natural position, as shown in Fig. 1, through theaction of the spring members 34.

Thus it may be seen the inventlon provldes a simple and eflicientmechanism for completing an electrical circuit upon the positioning therecord.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statute, I havedescribed my invention, but I desire it understood that it is notconfined to the particular form shown and described the same beingmerely illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out in otherways without departin from the spirit of my invention, and therefore, Iclaim broadlv the right to employ all equivalent instrumentalitiesoniing within the scope of the appended claims, and by means of which,objects of my invention are attained and new results accomplished as itis obvious that the p rticular embodiments herein shown and describedare only some of many that can be employed to attain these objects andaccomplish these results.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is:

1. In a phonograph the combination with a tone arm, of a switch,including an actuating arm movable with said tone arm, a contactcarrying arm, a stationary contact, a cam surface on one extremity ofsaid actuating arm, and a cooperating pin carried on 'said contactcarrying arm whereby movement of the tone arm inwardly towards the outerperiphery of a sound record groove cams said contact carrying armtowards said stationary contact.

2. In an automatic switch including a stationary contact, a movablecontact, a pivoted arm for carrying said movable contact, a stationaryblock adjacent the pivoted end of said contactcarrying arm, a pair ofspring members on either side of said block adapted to engage eitherside of said pivoted arm for securing said arm normally in uncontactedposition. V

3. In an automatic switch including a pivotedcontact carrying arm, acontact carried thereby, resilient means for carrying said cont-act andmeans for limiting movement of said contact with respect to said contactcarrying arm.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 24th day of April, A. D. 1928.

ALGER S. RIGGS.

